Experience Amsterdam

Tips for your stay in Amsterdam!

As Amsterdam is a surprisingly compact city with excellent public transport, travelling around is quick and easy. Amsterdam is the ideal place for planning an extra informal meeting with your colleagues! What about arranging to meet up in one of the 51 museums, many of them within walking distance of the city centre, or in one of the 25 beautiful old courtyards, 1215 pavement cafés or 55 theatres. After a busy day you may appreciate a relaxing stroll back to one of the 350 excellent hotels to take your mind of things.

The Netherlands’ capital city has been a centre of creativity and culture for centuries. From its humble beginnings as a 13th-century fishing village to its current role as a major hub for business, tourism and culture, Amsterdam has a strong tradition as a centre of culture and commerce. During the 17th-century ( Golden Age), the city became famous as the leading hub for trade and art; in the 1960s, it emerged as Europe’s magical centre. People have made the city unique; it has a highly individual, spirited and young-at-heart character. Amsterdammers are known for their friendly, tolerant and cosmopolitan nature; that’s why not too surprisingly, most speak at least two languages (English is almost always one of them). With inhabitants from 177 different cultures, Amsterdam is one of the top three most
diverse cities in the world.

Amsterdam has 51 museums, with a wide range of permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. The largest and most renowned institutions include: the Van Gogh Museum (world’s largest collection of the artist’s masterpieces), the Rijksmuseum (works of the 17th-century Dutch masters Rembrandt and Vermeer), the Stedelijk Museum (world-renowned bastion of modern and contemporary art), the Hermitage Amsterdam, the Anne Frank House, the baroque Royal Palace on the Dam square and the Rembrandthuis. There are also a surprising number of smaller museums, which exhibit a great diversity of art and collections in Amsterdam. The recent popularity of photography and multimedia has also flourished in Amsterdam.

Dining out in Amsterdam is as varied as its multicultural population ; as a result of 177 nationalities of people living in Amsterdam, there is a wealth of international cuisine to choose from. Experience the exotic flavours of the Indonesian rice table, a specialty here, or dine in a genuine Bedouin tent. From authentic Spanish tapas and award-winning Japanese food to organic-focused fusion cuisine and Michelin-star French dishes. It is a global gastronomic scene in Amsterdam. So if your delegates are homesick for their own style of cooking or are in the mood for a culinary adventure, they will not be disappointed by the menu in Amsterdam. Many of the restaurants can accommodate groups and banquets and there are plenty of smaller establishments for guests looking for a more relaxing dining experience to end the day.

Amsterdam’s name originates from a dam on the Amstel River. The city’s nickname, Mokum, is derived from the Hebrew word Makom, which means place. The 165 canals that the city boasts have earned it another title: ‘Venice of the North’. Amsterdam actually has more canals than Venice, more bridges than Paris and nearly 7,000 monumental buildings. There are almost as many bicycles as inhabitants in Amsterdam. Some claim the bicycles outnumber the population. The city is home to 600,000 bicycles and 750,000 inhabitants. There is even a bicycle parking garage near Amsterdam Central Station. Amsterdam has a great variety of bars, nightclubs, cafés and amazing events. There are 1215 cafés and bars, 1250 restaurants, 61 cinemas and 36 discotheques. As far as accommodation goes, there are 350 hotels and 5 campsites in Amsterdam. Shopaholics are in for a treat, as there are 21 markets and 6179 shops. You might be interested to know that 6100 animals live in Artis Zoo, there are 110 canal barges with panoramic glass roofs and saloon boats, 28 parks planted with 600,000 flower bulbs.

The Rijksmuseum is the principal national museum in Holland. It illustrates the art and history of Holland from the Middle Ages to the present. World-famous highlights from the Dutch Golden Age, including Rembrandt van Rijn’s Night Watch and Johannes Vermeer’s TheMilkmaid, can be admired at the Rijksmuseum

Things to do

Whether you live here and want to know what’s happening this weekend, or you’re planning your visit to Amsterdam a few months in advance, this is your guide for things to do in Amsterdam. Browse the sections below for the best Amsterdam attractions and unmissable experiences, search the what’s on guide for upcoming events, exhibitions, gigs and festivals in Amsterdam, or check out our suggested itineraries for ideas of what to do over one or two days in Amsterdam.